Chapter 2: 002 Rebirth in This Life

When she regained consciousness again, Qian Ge felt the muffled sound of weeping beside her ear through a hazy fog.

Had she entered the Underworld? This crying sounded like her elder sister's voice. Was she crying so sorrowfully because it was too painful? Was she blaming Qian Ge for failing to save her life, or even for failing to preserve her corpse?

Qian Ge struggled to open her eyes; she wanted to admit her faults and atone to her sister, but she simply could not open them.

"Qian Ge, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. It's all because I didn't take good care of you. Please, wake up. As long as you wake up, I will definitely save up money to buy you a hairpin just like Third Sister's," her sister said through her sobs.

Third Sister? A hairpin? What was her sister talking about? Why was she apologizing? Shouldn't she be scolding her for being unable to judge people correctly, or for harming others and herself?

"I believe you wouldn't steal Third Sister's hairpin. You couldn't possibly do such a thing. When Third Sister returns, I will definitely take her to confront Mother and clear your name."

After comforting her for a while, her sister began to blame herself again: "It's all my fault for never buying you fine cosmetics or jewelry. That's why you took Third Sister's hairpin to play with and were discovered and beaten by Mother..."

Qian Ge felt a vague sense that something was wrong. This scene felt so familiar, as if it had happened before...

Suddenly realizing something, Qian Ge's heart gave a heavy leap. A surge of astonishment and joy gave her strength, and she abruptly forced her heavy eyelids open. Her vision was blurred at first, but then what met her eyes was a semi-old, primrose-colored, double-layered brocade curtain embroidered with morning glories.

Tilting her head to the side, she saw her sister, dressed in an autumn-colored floral plain satin ruqun with her hair simply tied in a lily bun. Without any makeup, her face was still somewhat youthful. She was guarding the bedside, tears hanging on her face as she bowed her head and wept softly.

Qian Ge blinked twice before she could overlap the plain and elegant woman before her with the peerless beauty of the future—the one who would be favored above all in the Six Palaces, wearing heavy makeup and luxurious clothing with a sharp expression.

It had been only four years between then and now. Looking back, her sister had changed so much that even her own biological sister couldn't recognize her at a glance. Her sister had actually changed so much for her sake...

A dull pain struck her heart, and Qian Ge let out a pained, muffled cough.

Xue Qianwu hurriedly lifted her head, a joyful smile breaking across her face: "Qian Ge, you're awake! Does your body hurt? Wait a moment, Sister will bring you some medicine to drink."

Xue Qianwu wiped her face and prepared to stand up, but her wrist was caught. Then, she felt a weight against her chest as her younger sister threw herself into her arms. Before she knew what was happening, she felt her chest rapidly become soaked.

Xue Qianwu was startled and hugged her with heartache: "Qian Ge, does it hurt a lot? I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's all my fault..." Stroking her sister's hair while uttering words of self-reproach, Xue Qianwu could not help but shed tears as well.

"Sister! Sister! Sister..." Qian Ge called out repeatedly in a shrill, sorrowful voice, her hands tightly clutching her sister's waist. Only by feeling her warmth and softness did she confirm that this was not a dream; she had truly come back, back to the time before everything could still be redeemed.

Listening to her sister's comforting and self-blaming words, Qian Ge could no longer hold back and wailed loudly. All the grievances, fears, resentment, and regrets surged forth, pouring out as tears.

After holding her sister and crying for a long while, Qian Ge's emotions finally stabilized. Lifting her head from Xue Qianwu's embrace, Qian Ge sniffled somewhat bashfully. Since her sister had entered the palace, they hadn't been this close for two years.

Xue Qianwu took a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the tear stains from Qian Ge's face, then tidied her own appearance and said, "Wait here for a moment, Qian Ge. Sister will go get your medicine. Once you drink it, you won't be in so much pain." After saying this, she tucked the quilt around her and turned to go out the door.

Only now did Xue Qiange have the composure to examine herself. She realized she had been lying on her stomach the whole time, and any movement of her hips brought a tearing pain. Connecting this with what her sister had said earlier and recalling the events, she quickly pieced together the whole situation.